Everything is tougher on a bike in the Olympics: eating, drinking and, yes, bathroom breaks

PARIS (AP) — German cyclist Nils Politt was feeling good early in the Olympic road race on Saturday, getting into a breakaway and giving the veteran of seven Tours de France the feeling that something magical could happen on the streets of Paris.

Suddenly, he began to feel something much different: his tummy rumbling.

In a video that quickly went viral on social media, Politt did what any tourist would do in such a situation: He popped into the nearest cafe and used the toilette. By the time he finished, a fast-growing crowd had arrived, and the 30-year-old from Cologne was getting quite the round of applause on his way back to his bike.

“I did not count how much time it took me,” Politt explained after reaching the finish line. "It was really warm, we were drinking a lot of water, ate a lot of (energy) gels and normally I don’t have problems. But today I had an upset stomach.”

Everything is more difficult on a bike, from eating and drinking to, yes, bathroom breaks. That was especially true on Saturday, when the men tackled the longest race in Olympic history — 273 kilometers (170 miles) from the start at the Trocadero, into the French countryside, back to Paris for loops of Montmartre, to the finish at the Eiffel Tower.

The women faced a similar, albeit slightly shorter, course for their road race Sunday.

So how exactly do riders survive six-plus hours in the saddle? Here is how it works:

With so much food and drink passing through their bodies, riders often feel the call of nature. How they manage it depends on the situation — their position on the road, the speed of the peloton, how far they are from the finish.

In most cases, several riders will stop en masse and relieve themselves among trees or in a ditch. That way, they can work together to catch back up. If the speed of the race has elevated, and when the need to urinate arises, riders can — and do — swing to the side of the road and take care of it without stopping.

Bowel movements are a bigger problem. It is not uncommon to stop in a bar or cafe along the route, usually in small, out-of-the-way towns where it goes unnoticed. It might take a couple of minutes but riders can usually catch up.

In the case of Politt, the call came at a particularly bad spot in the Olympic road race: He was near the end, where the finishing climbs of Montmartre went through steep streets packed shoulder to shoulder with thousands of flag-waving fans.

Politt was forced to climb over a barricade and wade through them to use a cafe’s facilities. He lost several minutes, but it didn’t really matter in the end. He finished in 70th place, nearly 20 minutes behind gold medalist Remco Evenepoel.

The right fuel is crucial for riders, and they work with dietitians and sports physiologists to construct menus that are heavy on carbs, such as pasta and rice. The key is to make sure it packs enough energy but also is easily digestible.

On race day, riders will carb load even more, perhaps eating oatmeal and rice for breakfast, and they will have coffee or a pre-workout that provides a caffeine kick. But the trick is to keep consuming calories when the race begins.

In the Olympic road race, most riders will burn between 6,000 and 8,000 calories.

Along the route, support staff will be available with musettes, which are lightweight bags with a long strap that riders can grab and sling over their shoulder. Inside are a variety of options depending on rider preference: sandwiches and paninis, energy bars and gels, and even small cans of soda should they need another sugar and caffeine rush.

In the early days of the Tour de France, riders often drank alcohol in the midst the race. But sports science has come a long way. The drink of choice now? Water, primarily, but also mixes that provide electrolytes, BCAAs and other nutrients.

Riders will consume at least a liter of fluid every hour and still sweat out more than they consume.

Team members will be along the road to provide fresh bottles, and riders can surf back through the peloton to get more from team cars behind the race. Often, riders designated to help the team leader will grab several and stuff them down their jerseys, then deliver them to their teammates up the road.

Neutral support vehicles also ride within the race. They are obligated to provide bottles to anyone, regardless of the team.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Riders pedal past a cheering crowd, during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (Tim de Waele/Pool Photo via AP)

Tourists stroll around during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Cyclists ride past the Louvre museum as they compete in the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Luca Mozzato, of Italy, centre, rides past the Sacre Coeur basilica, during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Riders are cheered by spectators during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (Tim de Waele/Pool Photo via AP)

Mathieu Van Der Poel, of the Netherlands, pedals during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (Tim de Waele/Pool Photo via AP)

Remco Evenepoel, of Belgium, celebrates winning the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Cyclists ride past the Sacre Coeur basilica, during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

The pack of riders passes by the Louvre museum, during a men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Nils Politt, of Germany, rides along with other cyclists past Notre Dame cathedral, visible in background, during the men's road cycling event, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — Mourners have begun to arrive for the funeral for John and Matthew Gaudreau at a church in suburban Philadelphia on Monday.

A bus brought family members and players to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, and dozens of others walked in for the service more than two hours before its scheduled start at noon.

The Gaudreau brothers died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey. John, an All-Star for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets known as “Johnny Hockey,” and Matthew, who played collegiate hockey alongside his brother at Boston College, died Aug. 29 on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

Countless members of the hockey community from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston College are expected to join family and friends for the funeral, including the entire Blue Jackets team, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York.

The brothers have been mourned across the sports world, including Columbus, Ohio, where Gaudreau signed a free-agent deal in 2022 with the small-market Blue Jackets over more lucrative free-agent offers from other teams, including the New Jersey Devils. Fans and Blue Jackets players gathered last week for an emotional candlelight vigil, and a similar gathering was held in Calgary.

“The way they carried themselves around campus and the enjoyment that they had each and every day around the guys, they were really fun to be around,” Boston College associate coach Mike Ayers said. “They were both very, very talented hockey players but they were great people to be around and made everything around them fun.”

A GoFundMe for Matthew’s widow, Madeline, to support her and their baby due in December, has surpassed $645,000, with donations from nearly 9,000 people pouring in, many from NHL players and their families.

“He didn’t make the millions that Johnny did and doesn’t have the pension from the Players’ Association,” said Michael Myers of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers, for whom Matthew played two seasons. “It’s important that the hockey community recognizes that and embraces that to help Matthew’s family.”

The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township about 8 p.m. when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and faces two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He has been jailed pending a Sept. 13 hearing.

The brothers have been celebrated on various social media platforms since their deaths. Katie Gaudreau, the little sister who was to be married the day after the brothers were killed, has posted pictures of her family in happier times on social media.

Over the weekend, it was an Instagram video captioned “Birds for the Gauderau boys," over a clip of John Gaudreau opening his winter coat to flash an Eagles jersey as he went through security ahead of an NHL game. She also posted a tribute to a family slideshow called “That day” where she wrote how she would “do anything to tell my big brothers I love them one more time.”

Devin Joyce, the expected groom and a collegiate hockey player, wrote of his promise “to take the absolute best care of your little sister.”

He added: “I know I never said it but I loved you guys so much. I'm so lucky to have called you two my brothers for as long as I did.”

Whyno reported from Washington.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Mourners arrive for a funeral for Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player John Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pa., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A memorial for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who died last week when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles, is shown in Salem County, N.J, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.(Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Shown is a makeshift memorial for NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew who were killed by a suspected drunken driver as they bicycled on a rural road, Sept. 5, 2024, in Oldmans Township , N.J., Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Fans attend a vigil for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Columbus Blue Jackets player Cole Sillinger, center, reacts during the candlelight vigil to honor Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2024, outside of Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a motor vehicle last week while riding bicycles. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

Shiloh Rivera, left, mourns with Hylas Stemen, center, and Amanda Rivera of Columbus, at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024. Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, was fatally struck by a motorist while riding his bicycle on Thursday. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

A tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau is seen before a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

FILE - Quinnipiac goalie Michael Garteig (34) makes the save on a shot by Boston College forward Matthew Gaudreau (21) during the first period of an NCAA Frozen Four semifinal NCAA college hockey game Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Hylas Stemen, facing, of Columbus, hugs Dave Fetzer at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024. Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, was fatally struck by a motorist while riding his bicycle on Thursday. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

FILE - Unted States' Johnny Gaudreau, right, challenges for a puck with Latvia's Janis Jaks during the preliminary round match between Latvia and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, file)

Boston College NCAA college hockey player Johnny Gaudreau celebrates his goal against Notre Dame during the third period of quarterfinal round match at the Hockey East Tournament in Chestnut Hill, Mass., March 15, 2014. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via AP)

Flowers and memorabilia for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew lie on the grass outside the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans attend a vigil for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthewin Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

FILE - Columbus Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau (13) awaits the face-off during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, file)